Smith: Spiezio is looking for a new life in an old place

Jan. 13, 2013

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Scott Spiezio, who played on the 2002 World Series champion Angels, has enjoyed reconnecting with Angels fans like J.B. Sebastiano of Irvine at the SoCal Baseball and Sports Collectors Expo on Saturday at the Anaheim Marriott. MARCIA C. SMITH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Scott Spiezio, who played on the 2002 World Series champion Angels, has enjoyed reconnecting with Angels fans like J.B.(left), Sonia and Matt Sebastiano of Irvine at the SoCal Baseball and Sports Collectors Expo on Saturday at the Anaheim Marriott. MARCIA C. SMITH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Scott Spiezio, who played on the 2002 World Series champion Angels, has enjoyed reconnecting with Angels fans like J.B. Sebastiano of Irvine at the SoCal Baseball and Sports Collectors Expo on Saturday at the Anaheim Marriott.MARCIA C. SMITH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

What: Former Angel Scott Spiezio will serve as grand marshal for the third 2013 stop in the world's premier motorcycle series.

When: 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013.

Where: Angel Stadium

Tickets: $35-85. Discounted $35 tickets will be available for $23 -- Spiezio's Angels jersey number -- until Friday (Jan. 18) using the password SPIEZIO at Ticketmaster.com

ANAHEIM – Scott Spiezio, the edgy, soul-patched, hard-rocking utility man behind the most famous home run in Angels' World Series history, ought to have his own reality TV show.

He is, after all, 40 years old, a father of three children, five years removed from playing his last major league game and only now – like 20 minutes ago – realizing that he probably should make that transition to new life after baseball.

He never officially retired from the game that he played for 12 seasons (1996-2007), including four with the Angels (2000-2003). He just stopped playing when teams stopped calling.

Spiezio knows, regrettably, that his late-career battles with everything – drugs, alcohol, depression, divorce, the public shame of a 2008 Irvine drunken-driving crash and arrest and "the demons," several friends said – probably cost him another season, maybe even a comeback.

"I spent a lot of time rebuilding and I guess it's now time to get busy," said Spiezio, who will return to Angel Stadium on Saturday as grand marshal for his latest sports fascination, AMA Supercross.

"I like the people out here and the time I had here with the Angels. I've surrounded myself with the right people. I've got that thirst again to go out and do stuff."

After a 2009 stint in independent ball, Spiezio has been living on a 60-acre compound in his childhood hometown of Morris, Ill. There, he has built himself a "giant mancave" home with a basketball court, batting cages, a recording studio and a backyard playground featuring 2 1/2 miles of rugged track for riding four-wheeler ATVs, a stretch of Nettles Creek for kayaking and a wooden area for hunting deer.

"I just bought a Mathews hunting bow," he said. "The first arrow I shot hit the wall of my house and I couldn't get it out."

Spiezio lives a mile from his ex-wife with whom he shares custody of Tyler, 13, Cody, 10, and Tessa, 8. He plays video games with them, throws them batting practice and helps them with homework.

"The transition has been tough for me because I've gone from having that adrenalin of playing in front TV cameras and of 47,500 people every night to living in the middle of 60 acres," he said. "When I'm with the kids, it's one thing, but when I'm by myself, I'm like, 'What do I do?' and I start putting up ziplines."

He thinks about trying his hand at broadcasting, since he's comfortable and charming in front of the camera. Or coaching, if the Angels invite him to spring training in Tempe, Ariz., to "visit and help out and show my boys around," he says. Or writing more music and performing as the frontman for his speed-metal band, Sandfrog, which had one of its songs, "Save Yourself," used in the Season 8 premiere of "Dog the Bounty Hunter."

Sports promoter Jim Honabach got Spiezio to join fellow 2002 Angels Garret Anderson and Troy Glaus for a Jan. 5 autograph session at Frank & Son in the City of Industry.

"People love Scott so much and love how genuine and humble he is that I brought him back this weekend and want to keep putting him in other events," said Honabach, who flew Spiezio back to appear this past Friday and Saturday at the Southern California Baseball and Sports Collectors Expo at the Anaheim Marriott.

"It's weird that people will pay ($29 a pop) for my autograph," Spiezio said, modestly. "I'm just happy they ask. Hey, I'd paid them to sign!"

For his fans, he dyed his soul patch Angels red again. He spent a few minutes visiting with each autograph seeker, listening to their memories of his three-run home run in Game 6 of the 2002 World Series that sparked the Angels' comeback and forced Game 7.

He was gracious and giving. After signing an autograph, he suggested taking a photo. When offered handshakes, he gave fans embraces.

"He has got a big heart and an energetic personality," said Spiezio's friend and fellow northern Illinois resident Denny Hartwig, the public relations director for Feld Motor Sports, the promoter and producer of Monster Energy Supercross.

Hartwig invited Spiezio to his first Supercross event, the Jan. 5 season opener at Angel Stadium. Through a sellout crowd of 45,050 people, Spiezio couldn't walk the distance from home to first base without being stopped by fans who made him feel like a legendary Angel again.

In the ballpark, Spiezio was as recognized as much -- if not more -- than defending Supercross champion Ryan Villopoto, the night's race winner Davi Millsaps or series superstar James Stewart.

"He needs to be out there with people," Hartwig said. "This is a chance to get him in front of a new audience and back to the stadium he already knows."

Before that night, Spiezio thought of Supercross as only an offseason event that tore up his baseball diamond. But watching a race, Spiezio felt the power of the rattling motorcycle engines scratch pleasantly at his nerves. He saw the dirt the riders kicked up in corners to hold their position.

"I was blown away by the speed. Once I looked up and these guys on bikes were flying over my head," said Spiezio, his hands balled in fists days while describing the furious action.

"I was like, 'Whoa! They're going to crash.' But they didn't."

Spiezio will take part in Saturday's opening ceremonies. Videoboard highlights of his Angels career will be part of the presentation. Riders will be staged a few feet from where his Game 6 home run creeped over the right-field wall.

And Spiezio, eager to begin a new life after baseball, will step to the microphone and shout, "Gentlemen, start your engines."

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